Margaret Atwood backs new Beau’s ale

Canadian author Margaret Atwood is pictured in a Toronto hotel room on Tuesday March 6, 2012. After three days of science awards the Nobel spotlight turns to the art of writing Thursday when the Swedish Academy will announce the winner of the Nobel Prize in literature. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young.

Photograph by: Chris Young
, THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA — Beau’s All Natural Brewing has gone literary in its most recent collaborative project, teaming up with acclaimed Canadian writers Margaret Atwood and Graeme Gibson. The Vankleek Hill brewery will release a new limited-edition gruit ale inspired by Atwood at the Session Toronto Craft Beer Festival June 13 and 14.

The new brew will use herbs and botanicals in place of the traditional hops, inspired by the foraging and harvesting of plants and botanicals in Atwood’s most recent novel MaddAddam.

Proceeds from the sale of the ale will support the Pelee Island Bird Observatory, a non-profit organization dedicated to the study and conservation of birds. Because of its unique micro-climate and diverse plant life, Pelee Island is an important stopover site for many migratory birds and has been designated as a globally Important Bird Area. Gibson serves as the chair of the board of directors for the observatory and Atwood is an adviser to the board. “We are super-honoured to have Ms. Atwood and Mr. Gibson’s collaboration in creating this beer,” says Beau’s co-founder Steve Beauchesne of the partnership. The Pelee Island Bird Observatory “was personally important to them, and for Beau’s, it fits with our commitment to brewing interesting, tasty beer that at the same time is creating sustainable, positive change in our local communities.”

Last year, Beau’s collaboration with Canadian comedian Tom Green yielded The Tom Green Beer and earned the brewery first place at the Collaboration Nation competition at Toronto’s Session Craft Beer Festival. This new brew will vie again for the top spot, competing against 30 other collaborative efforts from craft breweries paired with local artists, celebrities or organizations. While the official launch of the gruit ale takes place at the festival, the beer will also be available at limited quantities in restaurants and pubs across Ontario, and in bottles at the brewery, starting in June.

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Canadian author Margaret Atwood is pictured in a Toronto hotel room on Tuesday March 6, 2012. After three days of science awards the Nobel spotlight turns to the art of writing Thursday when the Swedish Academy will announce the winner of the Nobel Prize in literature. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Young.